Corset.



No. 648,387. CARI-TON, Patentedlay 1,1900.

s. L. QARLTON, Administrator.

G 0 B S E T (Application filed Apr. 19. 1899.)

(No Model.)

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC BERTHA P. CARLTON, OF HOLYOKE, MASSACHUSETTS; GEORGE L. CARLTON ADMINISTRATOR OF SAID BERTHA P. CARLTON, DECEASED.

coRsET.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 648,387, dated May 1, 1900. Application filed April 19, 1899- Serial No. 713,537. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BERTHA P. CARLTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at I-Iolyoke, in the county of l-Iampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corsets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the various improvements in corsets hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims; and the objects of my improvement are, first, to provide a corset which improves the outlines of the figure of the wearer by filling out or extending such parts of said figure; as a deficiency in natural plumpness renders necessary or desirable second, to produce an article of the class designated above that is easy and comfortable to wear and not liable to have an y of its parts displaced, and, third, to furnish a corset that combines the before-mentioned qualities with that of forming a perfect support for the body. I attain these objects by the means illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front View of my corset, showing its application to the human form; and Fig. 2, an interior view of one-half of said corset, showing more clearly the improved features of the same.

Similar figures refer to similar parts throughout both views:

This corset consists, primarily, like any other corset, of two sections laced together up the back and hooked in front. The lefthand section 1 and the right-hand section 2 are substantially alike in construction and a description of the parts of section 2, Fig. 2, which are not shown in connection withsec tion 1, Fig. 1, will nevertheless be understood to apply to said latter-mentioned section. The section 2 is attached to its companion at the back bya lacing passing through the holes 3. Each section is provided with part of a padded skirt 4:, which serves to distend the clothing in the rear. The skirt 4 is securely fastened to the outside of the corset at the lower rear part and consists of padded ribs arranged vertically, the series of ribs extending from each section over the space between the sections 1 and 2 and onto the sections, the

skirt being detachably held in place where it crosses said space by the strings 5.

The front of the section 1 is equipped with the ordinary eyes 6 and the section 2 with the ordinary hooks 7 for fastening the corset together or unfastening the same. In order to obviate the liability of accidental disconnection between any of the hooks 7 and eyes 6, I make use of the supplemental eyes 8. Each eye 8 depends from an elastic tab 9, which is preferably attached to the section 2 above the corresponding hook 7 and normally retains saideye out of the way of said hook; After,

the two sections are hooked together in front the eyes 8 are drawn down and snapped over the hooks 7 over and upon the eyes 6, thereby securing the latter against displacement. Before the corset is unfastened for removal it is necessary to detach the eyes 8 from the hooks 7. This safety device for fastening the corsets may be varied by changing the position or location of the tabs 9 or otherwise Without departing from the nature of my invention.

The upper part of the front of each section is provided with a padded rib 10, these ribs serving to fill in the chest, as well as present a soft or slightly-yielding pressure between the breasts. The corsets are further padded be neath the arnis, as indicated by the dotted lines 11, to round out the figure at these points, The padded tabs 12 extend upward onto the shoulders from above th bust portions of the corsets to meet the straps 13, which spring from the top of the back of said corsets. The tabs 12 square up the shoulders and, with the attached straps 13, help to support the corsets from the same.

The semispherical breast portions 14: conform in outline to well-proportioned'bosoms, each breast portion or hemisphere being held in shape or reinforced by the horizontally= disposed metallic band 15, (indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2,) or in any other suitable manner, while the vertically-arranged elastic crosspieces 16 are provided within each of said hemispheres to support the breast in case the same is not large enough toreceive support from the other adjacent parts of the cor= set. The ends of the cross-pieces 16 are fastened to the rim or base of the hemispheres or breast portions 14. Any suitable breastsupport may be substituted for the crosspieces 16, provided the same general arrange.

ment is maintained forholding up the bosom which is too small to fill the hemisphere 14.

In order to prevent the clothing from entering between the hemispheres 14,the shield 17 is made use of." The shield 17 may be detachably connected to the top of both sections by the eyes 18 and the hooks 19, orit may be of the cloth parts 20, connected by, the elastic straps 21. The bands just described are arranged on the sides of the corset leading from the points where said corset flares to form the overhanging hip portions 22. The hip portions 22 extend laterally beyond the hip-bands and improve the shape of the'wearer and distend the clothing. The metallic ribs .23 havetheir ends securely fastened to the inside of the section containing the same and curve outward beneath the adjacent hip portion 22 to support said portion. The free terminals of the ribs 23 are adapted to slide .through the olasps 24: for the purpose of adjusting the former to conform to the size of .the hip portion 22. The hip portions 22 are slashed and have the gussets 25 set'in with the strings 26 to draw up or let out said portions according to the size desired and in conformity with the positions of the ribs 23, said portions being laced snugly against said ribs. The clasps 24 and the ribs 23 work with'sufparts in the positions in which they are left after adjustment. The gussets 25 may be omitted and the strings 26 rove directly through the edges of the slashed portions 22. The ribs 23 are preferably'made of some resilient metal in order to have them somewhat yielding under pressure. I f

What I claim as my invention, anddesire to secure by Letters, Patent, is

1. A corset having vertical slits in'the hip portions, yielding bands secured to the inner face of the corset and adapted to embrace the hips of the wearer, elastic straps 21 uniting the yielding bands at their innerends, sleeves or clasps 24 secured to the corset, curved metallic ribs 23 arranged in said sleeves, and means to adj ustably draw the slits together, substantially as described.

2. A corset having vertical slits over the hip portions, lacers to close the slits, oppositelyplaced pieces of cloth 20, 20, secured to the inner face of the corset,'elastio bands 21 secured to the inner approaching ends of said pieces, sleeves 2 L secured to opposite sides of said slits, and metallic ribs 23 slidingly arranged in the saidsleeves, substantially as shown and described.

I BERTHA P. CARLTON.

WVitnesses: I

' DEXTER E. TILLEY,

S. SWEENEY.

ficie'nt friction to insure the retention of these 

